George Traves MBE, who is also chairman of the North Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee, has been elected chairman of the Association of Sea Fisheries Committees.

The national ASFC covers 12 regional committees in England and Wales which are responsible for managing inshore waters fish and shellfishing and the marine environment in inshore waters for a distance of six miles out from shore.

He replaces David Muirhead, chairman of Cornwall SFC who has chaired the ASFC for three years.

Mr Traves, 71, of George Street, Bridlington, comes from a fishing family and still goes out on his boat for salmon and sea trout. He has been a member of the North Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee, which covers the East Coast from the Tyne down to Donna Nook on the north bank of the Humber, since 1985 and its chairman since 1994.

His new role will involve quarterly meetings in London.

"There is a lot of work to be done in relation to the Government's Marine Bill," said Mr Traves, fresh back from a trip to Finland where he has been overseeing the signing off of the committee's new £1.4m patrol boat North East Guardian 3 which is due for delivery within the next few weeks.

Berthed in Whitby, it is the first of a new breed of fisheries protection vessels.

"Whilst its principal role is enforcement it will be involved in environmental work as well which is becoming an important part of the committees work," said Mr Traves.

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